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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to think the cat took these items?

37 replies

patjen · 02/06/2014 07:32

I just don't know. We used to have two cats which have now passed away, but we still have cat flaps in place.

Anyway, last wednesday I had a shock when I looked up to see a cat looking straight at me in the living room.

This little bugger has been spotted several times within the house since and runs off when we see him.

Our bedroom is in the attic space (one level up from living room) and I noticed that a stuffed toy was no longer there anymore along with a few other items like some underwear.

Now unless I am cracking up, nobody has moved them to the best of my knowledge.

AIBU to think he/she is the 'thief' or is this just fanciful? I mean a human wouldn't just 'steal' a pair of underpants and leave an experience camera so it's not a human being.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 02/06/2014 07:36

Quite possible. Can you not lock or at seal up the cat flaps? Our little cat died last year, but I can lock the cat flap.

HypodeemicNerdle · 02/06/2014 07:39

Yep, cats can be thieves.

We had one who regularly turned up with new cat toys, we had no idea where she'd nicked them from. Very embarrassing!

YouTheCat · 02/06/2014 07:41

My ex had one that turned up with neat little packages of paté and expensive ham.

You need a new cat. A great big one that will police the cat flap with a look that says 'you're not on the list you're not coming in'.

Original poster
patjen · 02/06/2014 07:43

Hi, won't be replying as such but I am reading any replies as I really do want to hear others experiences. I mean is it possible I'm right or have others experienced this?

The cat suddenly appearing, things going missing...

OP posts:
Original poster
patjen · 02/06/2014 07:43

Where to look inside the house/immediate vicinity of garden? Could they be there?

OP posts:
wowfudge · 02/06/2014 07:47

The cat has probably taken them home or to its favourite spot. My friend's cat pinched her bikini from the pile of clothes she was planning to take on holiday. It was found being slept on by said cat!

Just prevent this recurring by securing the cat flap.

SecretWitch · 02/06/2014 07:50

My handsome tuxedo boy kitty is a notorious thief. He likes a good rummage in the children's bedrooms and often deposits his ill gotten booty behind the sofa. We have found stuffed animals, crayons, hair ties, socks and underwear stashed there. I once saw him dragging my DD's prized SpongeBob soft toy towards the sofa and waylaid him before toddler wars broke out.

AElfgifu · 02/06/2014 07:50

Our cats rearrange our possessions quite regularly. Hair bands and watches in particular disappear from the bedroom and reappear under the sofa.... And food disappears from the bin and can reappear almost anywhere.

if you are a cat lover i can see advantages to having this visitor. Lots of feline company and friendship, no financial responsibility or time commitment. Personally I would be making friendly overtures!

Flossyfloof · 02/06/2014 07:59

What do you mean, you won't be replying as such? Why not?

FruVikingessOla · 02/06/2014 08:00

I once house-shared with a friend who had two cats, one of which was a terrible thief! Not our stuff though. No, she regularly came home with socks, sponges, washing up cloths - you name it. Unfortunately we didn't know which neighbour(s) she was nicking from!

Monopolice · 02/06/2014 08:00

Why don't you just tape the cat flaps shut?

puntasticusername · 02/06/2014 08:10

Is it Slinky Malinki by any chance? Smile

Joysmum · 02/06/2014 08:10

Our first cat used to take remote controls out into the garden which meant we had to keep the lawn mowed or we'd never find them

BornOfFrustration · 02/06/2014 08:15

Back when mobile phones were tiny little flip phones, our cat would steal DH's. You'd see him run past with it hanging out of his mouth, so yes - some cats are thieving little gets.

Original poster
patjen · 02/06/2014 08:18

I didn't mean I wouldn't be replying as such in a negative way, it's just I'm more interested in other people's experiences and how common (or not) this is.

It's just a question regarding how likely it is that these items going missing is connected to appearance of cat that's all.

OP posts:
Olga79 · 02/06/2014 09:29

www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-25666343

MrsSteptoe · 02/06/2014 09:33

My friend's dog used to steal food. Sausages. Ice creams from toddlers in pushchairs (yes, I know). Came home with a frozen leg of lamb once.

Xihha · 02/06/2014 09:38

yep, its possible, a cat in California stole 600 things from neighbours

Original poster
patjen · 02/06/2014 11:57

Slippers? Seems they can carry things nearly their size! Doesn't seem so far-fetched now after all!

OP posts:
EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 02/06/2014 12:04

The old cat next door (no longer with us) used to pinch socks off the washing line, and several items from the children's dressing-up box would often disappear (it was kept in the shed)!

Our little cat used to scoop socks and undies from the linen basket through the decorative hole in the lid. It was evidently a great game Grin

YouTheCat · 02/06/2014 12:06

There are all amassing items for their bid to take over the world...

StatisticallyChallenged · 02/06/2014 12:09

I have a gatherer cat who relocates random things from one side of the house to the other. I think he has a secret stash somewhere of pilfered goods

MrsWinnibago · 02/06/2014 12:10

My old Tom stole an entire roast chicken! He dragged it out of the neighbour's house and into their garden to eat. We think he knocked it off the table and then pulled it with his teeth as he left a long greasy stain up their carpet. Grin He's gone to the great cat basket in the sky now but I still smile at his terrible manners.

Stinkle · 02/06/2014 12:11

One of my cats used to bring home odd socks (never a pair unfortunately Grin ), knickers, once it was a bracelet a child (I assume) had made stringing pasta, children's leggings

I tried to find out where he was going so I could return it all and apologise profusely but had no luck

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